legitimize

American  

[li-jit-uh-mahyz] / lɪˈdʒɪt əˌmaɪz /

especially British, legitimise

especially British, legitimatize,

verb (used with object)

legitimized, legitimizing

1. to make legitimate.

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legitimize British  

/ lɪˈdʒɪtɪməˌtaɪz, lɪˈdʒɪtɪˌmaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to make legitimate; legalize

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Other Word Forms

• legitimization noun

Etymology

Origin of legitimize

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin lēgitim(us) ( legitim ) + -ize

Example Sentences

The picture of Russia emerging triumphant and legitimized from such a deal is, ahem, at variance with reality.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Seeing Peggy get her Cinderella moment legitimized her as one of the romantic leads of the show,” Benton says.

From Los Angeles Times

In the decades that followed, in his complementary positions as book critic and editor, Cowley worked tirelessly to legitimize the innovative writing of Hemingway, John Dos Passos, Hart Crane, E.E.

From The Wall Street Journal

In a notable example, Cheney maneuvered to legitimize so-called enhanced interrogation in the war on terror, which critics said amounted to torture.

From The Wall Street Journal

A genre as wide-reaching and weird as this one doesn’t need golden statues to be legitimized.

From Salon

Related Words

• codify
• constitute
• decriminalize
• legislate
• regulate